Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteers are valued members of the UNC Health Appalachian patient care team and are always welcome at Cannon Memorial Hospital, Watauga Medical Center and several administrative offices within the healthcare system. A variety of work areas are available, as well as flexible schedules.
Volunteer Requirements
All volunteers must meet the following criteria before they are able to serve:
- Minimum age of 15
- Attend hospital orientation
- Receive a TB test
- Complete a competency test
Areas of Service
- Information Desk
- Gift Shop
- Pharmacy
- Cancer Center
- Nutrition Services
- Intensive Care
- Outpatient Surgery
- Outpatient Services
- Pain Clinic
- Admissions
- Lab
- Radiology
- Human Resources
- Other opportunities as arise
Watauga Medical Center
Join our caring and dedicated group of volunteers who provide quality support to our Medical Center personnel. The program has numerous volunteer opportunities for ASU students, seasonal, year round volunteers and junior volunteers in the summer.
Cannon Memorial Hospital
The program is open to year-round, seasonal and junior volunteers. Volunteers meet each month to plan events, coordinate fundraising activities and review hospital patient needs.
Spiritual Care Volunteers
UNC Health Appalachian is seeking lay or clergy volunteers from congregations across Avery County who would like to provide basic spiritual support to patients at Cannon Memorial Hospital. Volunteers will be supported and trained by professional chaplains at UNC Health Appalachian.
We have two needs:
- Daily volunteers are needed at Cannon’s medical/surgical unit to offer basic spiritual care to patients who request it. Each volunteer would sign up for one day a week, or share a day of the week with another volunteer. Care would be respectful of the patient’s/family’s beliefs and evangelizing will not be part of this program.
- Volunteers are also needed to lead worship on a rotating basis in the new expanded Behavioral Health Unit at Cannon Hospital. Sunday afternoon services will be brief and will focus on support and encouragement rather than evangelism. For more information, contact Melanie Childers at (828) 266-1178 or Melanie.Childers@unchealth.unc.edu
Junior Volunteers at Watauga Medical Center
Junior volunteers are welcome to volunteer at Watauga Medical Center. Junior volunteers must meet the following requirements:
- Junior volunteers are between the ages of 15 – 17
- Applications and permission forms must be completed and submitted by May 15th
- All junior volunteers are required to attend an orientation
- Junior volunteers must commit to serve at least five weeks of summer break
- Junior volunteers will be assigned one four-hour shift per week
PAWS Pet Therapy Program
UNCHA is also home to the PAWS Pet Therapy Program. If you and your certified pet therapy dog are interested in volunteering at one of our facilities, please email: Erin.Tyler@unchealth.unc.edu
